Paul Aruho
29 June 2009
Kyavinyonge — Tension that has gripped DR of Congo and Uganda fishermen over fishing on Lake Edward is yet to end.
Last Thursday, Bushenyi District officials travelled to Kyavinyonge landing site in DR Congo and agreed with their counterparts on how to handle the fishing on the lake.
Mr Monday Lwanga, the Bushenyi fisheries officer, said they agreed to form a joint monitoring committee that will oversee the fishing activities.
"We want this tension ended once and for all. We have started to lose lives because the fishermen of Kazinga and Kyavinyonge don't see eye to eye," he said.
The Ugandan fishermen say the Congolese have exhausted all the fish on their side and are now encroaching on Ugandan waters.
During the meeting, the Congolese representative from Beni territorial, Mr Kasekeka Kasukulu, said Uganda and Congo should know that they are brothers.
He also said Congo is just recovering from a conflict which has destroyed its law and order structures.
"We want you to know that our country is just coming out of a conflict but we are doing all it takes to see that harmony exists on the lake," Mr Kasukulu said.
Bushenyi RDC Gaston Maliro said Congolese entering Uganda with guns contravenes international law. Recently, Congolese fishermen fired gunshots on the lake.
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